Ice grip shoe accessory

ABSTRACT

An ice grip accessory for a shoe having a toe portion, a high heel and a sole has joined forward and rear portions. The forward portion has a toe box for engaging a toe portion of the shoe and a pad oriented upon a bottom surface of the shoe sole, the pad supporting a plurality of depending ice grip studs. The rear portion has a heel box for engaging at least a portion of the top lift of the shoe heel, the heel box supporting a heel pad oriented upon a bottom surface of the heel, the heel pad supporting a depending ice grip stud. The forward and rear portions are joined by a strap extending between and connecting the forward portion pad and the heel box, the strap including an upwardly extending portion surrounding an upper portion of the shoe counter. The straps may be length adjustable to allow the accessory to be accommodated of a variety of differently-sized shoes.

The present invention relates to a new and improved accessory forwomen's high heel shoes, and in particular to a removable accessoryproviding increased traction on snow and ice.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of devices to improve the traction of shoe on difficult terrain,including snow, ice, mud and the like is well known. Generally, suchdevices comprise an auxiliary panel covering at least a portion of theshoe's sole, with a spike or protrusion arrangement to provide enhancedgrip or “bite” into the ice or snow. Often such arrangements requirethat the shoe be especially adapted to accommodate the device, asexemplified by the structures presented in U.S. Pat. No. 1,758,091 toTagler, and U.S. Pat. No. 729,371 to Lutz, or that the accessory besemi-permanently mounted to the sole, as be screws, as presented in U.S.Pat. No. 217,761 to Winn.

The provision of devices to provide enhanced traction on snow and icefor women's shoes has been particularly problematical, especially withrespect to court, block and wedge heel styles. The wide variety ofstyles has heretofore made it difficult to provide an accessory capableof being used on a plurality of shoes and heel types, heights, shapes,and circumferences, given the number of pairs of shoes that may be foundin a typical woman's wardrobe, it is impractical for a woman to have aspecific accessory who's use is limited to a single pair of shoes, or isconvenient and efficient for use in connection with shoes having a highheel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a shoe accessory, particularlyadapted to be removably attached to a woman's shoe, and particularlyhigh heel shoes, to provide increased traction on ice and snow. Theaccessory includes a first portion that mounts to the toe portion of theshoe, overlying the front portion of the shoe sole, and a second portionthat is mounted to the heel of the shoe and likewise overlies at least aportion of the bottom surface of the heel. Both portions are providedwith downward-extending studs or projections to engage and provideincreased traction for the shoe in ice or snow. The first and secondportions may form a unitary construction, or may constitute separateelements irremovably joined together by a fastener. The two piececonstruction facilitates the interchange of elements to allow theaccessory to be used in conjunction with a variety of shoe styles.

Both portions or elements may be constructed of an elastomer, allowingthe elements to conform to the contour of the shoe portion to which theyare affixed. The front element encircles the shoe's top portion, whilethe rear element wraps substantially around at least a portion of thetop lift of the heel, and is further supported on the heel counter bymeans of an adjustable upwardly-extending strap.

A fuller understanding of the present invention will be obtained uponconsideration of the following description of currently preferred, butnonetheless illustrative embodiments of the invention, in associationwith the annexed drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the an ice grip accessory of the presentinvention in place on a block heel women's shoe, the shoe being shown inphantom;

FIG. 2 is bottom plan view of the accessory of FIG. 1, the strapsthereof being truncated for clarity;

FIGS. 3 a and 3 b are details view of a length-adjusting clasp that maybe used in connection with the invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an ice grip accessory of the presentinvention on a wedge heel woman's shoe, the shoe being shown in phantom;and

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the heel box of the construction of FIG.4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With initial reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, ice grip accessory 10 is shownin position on shoe 12, a woman's “block heel” shoe. As used herein, a“block heel” shoe is a type of “high heel” shoe in which the wearer'sheel is raised significantly above the toes. A block heel shoe has a gapor open area between the toe and heel portions, and in which the heelportion is of significant diameter, as opposed to a narrow “court” or“stiletto” high heel shoe. The present invention can be used inconnection with both types of shoes, as well as still other high heelshoe constructions, including wedge heels, in which there is nosignificant gap or open area between the toe and heel portions, arepresentation of which can been seen in FIG. 4.

Accessory 10 includes a forward portion 14, which comprises bottom pad16 bearing depending ice grip projections 18, bottom pad 16 beingpositioned by toe box portion 20 wrapping about the toe portion of theshoe to which the accessory is mounted. The toe box may have an openfront area 22 to allow it to more easily conform to the shape of theshoe.

The bottom pad 16 narrows at its rear end into rearwardly extendingstrap 24, which lies along the bottom surface of the shoe between thetoe and heel portions. Proximate the shoe heel the strap bifurcates intoa pair of strap portions 26 which together encircle the counter of theshoe and a depending strap portion 28 that leads downwardly along theforward surface of the shoe heel. The strap portions 26 join at thecounter, and may have at that location a widened bifurcated portion 30with upper and lower aims 30 a and 30 b to improve the contact betweenthe strap and shoe and more positively retain the accessory in position.

Depending strap portion 28 connects to heel box 32, which embraces thelower portion of the heel and supports a rear ice grip projection unit34.

With further reference to FIG. 2, accessory 10 may be constructed of athermoplastic elastomer or rubber, to provide physical durability and adegree of stretch to allow the accessory to be accommodated bydifferently shaped shoes, although it is contemplated that the accessorywill be manufactured in different sizes and contours as appropriate togenerally fit various shoe shapes. Injection molding may be anappropriate production method. The bottom pad 16 of forward portion 14is of a closed construction, and may be provided with embossed integraltreads of varying depths to provide added traction, with the stud units18 mounted in a series of spaced correspondingly-shaped molded receptionbores. The stud units 18 may be of an appropriate hard material, such astungsten carbide, coated or uncoated, with each stud unit having a baseportion of molded hard plastic to be mounted in a reception bore and oneor more, and preferably one to three, carbide engagement points. Thestud units may be five in number, positioned generally about theperiphery of the bottom pad, although other numbers and arrangements ofthe units are within the contemplation of the invention. The stud unitsmay be permanently affixed in the reception bores, or may be removableto allow replacement.

Heel box 32 surrounds the lower portion of the shoe heel and supports anadditional stud unit 34. The heel box may be constructed as a pair ofspaced heel-surrounding bands 36 that support vertical straps 38 whichin turn join together at the bottom (top lift) of the heel to form rearstud mounting pad 40. The vertical straps may be four in number, equallyspaced about the bands 36, with a forwardly positioned strap alignedwith depending strap portion 28. As with forward bottom pad 16, pad 40is provided with a reception bore for the stud unit 34. The portions ofthe straps 38 located at the base of the top lift may be provided withmolded spines 44 to strengthen the straps and provide a greater degreeof wear resistance and traction.

While both toe box 20 and heel box 32 may be formed as parts of aunitary construction, the invention further contemplates that the twoportions may be removably joined together. Towards that end coupling orclasp 46 may be provided along strap 24. The coupling may be a simplesnap fastener, or may provide a length adjustment for the strap as knownto accommodate a variety of shoe sizes or lengths. In a similar manner,strap portions 26 may be provided with length adjustment means in theform of clasps 54, while strap portion 28 may be provided with clasp 56.

FIG. 3 presents a structure that may be employed for length-adjustingclasps 46, 54 and 56. As shown therein, the clasp may comprise a pair ofrings 58, 60, each of which is affixed to the end of a correspondingstrap portion 62, 64, the two strap portions together comprising a strapelement to be length-adjusted. Each of the rings is sized anddimensioned to frictionally engage an overlying opposite strap element(i.e. ring 58 embraces and engages strap portion 64, while ring 60embraces and engages strap portion 62). By manually gripping and slidingthe rings towards or away from each other, the effective overall lengthof the two strap portions 62 and 64 may be adjusted by the wearer. Thefrictional fit of the rings about the straps is chosen such that therings may be moved by manual force, but in the absence of such force therings remain in fixed position against the normal force developed whenthe accessory is in place on the shoe and subject to walking stresses.Other clasp means, such as a pin and hole, belt-like arrangementassociated with the strap portions or other frictional engagement meanscan likewise be employed.

Referring to FIG. 4, accessory 10 is shown in place on wedge heel shoe48, which also may employ does not display a physical separation or gapbetween the shoe toe and elevated heel. Forward portion 14 is of thegeneral construction as that of FIG. 1, and again is joined to rear heelbox portion by strap 24, and likewise can also be affixed using acoupling 46 (not shown) along strap 24, which is considerably shorterthan the strap in FIG. 1, as the shoe heel of a wedge heel issignificantly longer than a block heel. Strap 24 divides into portions26 at a location proximate the front of the shoe heel, the strapportions again encircling an upper heel portion of the shoe and beingprovided with widened bifurcated portion 30 at the back of the shoe.

Rear heel box portion 32 is of a modified construction to accept thewedge heel of the shoe. In particular, the heel box does not fullysurround the heel, as the heel is not isolated from the forward part ofthe shoe, and comprises a single band 50 that encircles the lower or toplift rear portion of the heel 52, which may be of incrementally greaterheight than the remainder of the heel, supported by and terminating atthe heel straps 26. As further detailed in FIG. 5, a pair of verticalstraps 38 depends from heel band 50 to the bottom of the heel to formthe stud mounting pad 40, which supports the stud unit 42.

Mounting of the accessory upon a shoe is accomplished simply byinserting the toe portion of the shoe into the toe box portion 20 untila snug fit is accomplished, the resiliency of the accessory allowing thetoe box to conform to the shape of the shoe. If the accessory is of atwo part construction, the heel portion is then connected to the forwardportion. The heel box is then fit about the heel of the shoe and thestraps 26 positioned high on the shoe heel to retain the heel box inposition. The clasps 52, 54 and 56 are then adjusted as appropriate tomaintain a snug fit.

It is to be appreciated that variations and modifications to theinvention as specifically set forth herein may be made without departingfrom the scope of invention as set forth in the claims hereof.

I claim:
 1. An ice grip accessory for a shoe having a toe portion, ahigh heel and a sole, comprising; a forward portion having a toe box forengaging a toe portion of the shoe and a pad oriented upon a bottomsurface of the shoe sole, the pad supporting a plurality of dependingice grip studs; a rear portion having a heel box for engaging at least aportion of the top lift of the shoe heel, the heel box supporting a heelpad oriented upon a bottom surface of the heel, the heel pad supportinga depending ice grip stud; and a strap extending between and connectingthe forward portion's pad and the heel box, the strap including anupwardly extending portion surrounding an upper portion of the shoecounter.
 2. The ice grip accessory of claim 1, wherein the heel boxcomprises at least one strap surrounding at least a portion of the heeland a plurality of vertical straps supporting the heel pad.
 3. The icegrip accessory of claim 2, wherein the at least one strap fullysurrounds the heel and the vertical straps are at least four in number.4. The ice grip accessory of claim 2, wherein the at least one strap isa single strap partially surrounding the heel and supports the verticalstraps.
 5. The ice grip accessory of claim 1 further including alength-adjusting clasp for at least one of the straps connecting the padand the heel box and the upwardly extending portion of the strap.
 6. Theice grip accessory of claim 5 wherein the clasp comprises a pair ofrings each mounted to an opposed overlapping end portion of a strap tobe adjusted and frictionally engaging the opposed overlapping endportion.
 7. The ice grip accessory of claim 1 wherein the shoe is ablock heel or a court heel shoe, the strap dividing into the upwardlyextending portion and a further portion extending along a front surfaceof the heel to the heel box.
 8. The ice grip accessory of claim 1wherein the shoe is a wedge heel shoe, the strap further including aportion extending from the upwardly extending portion around the heeland comprises a portion of the heel box.
 9. The ice grip accessory ofclaim 1 wherein the pad of the forward portion is of a solidconstruction having traction elements of varying depths, and includesbores in which the ice grip studs are mounted.
 10. The ice gripaccessory of claim 1 wherein the upwardly extending portion of the strapincludes a bifurcated portion at the rear of the shoe heel.